Richard E. Zelenka, Esq., P.E.

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As an accomplished engineer, former Dow 30 business executive, and experienced patent attorney, Rick Zelenka offers his clients a rare combination of technical experience, business acumen and legal guidance. He has drafted and obtained patents in diverse arts such as automated systems, software and business methods, aerospace systems, medical devices, energy devices, electronic devices, mechanical systems and commercial products. He also holds multiple patents for his own inventions.

While a NASA engineer for over nine years, he created and flight-tested collision warning and guidance systems, documenting and presenting his signal processing and sensor fusion research in dozens of technical papers. He also established and managed several NASA-industry partnerships. After leaving NASA, he developed and launched an airline schedule management software system.

As a Boeing executive for nearly five years, he negotiated agreements for joint technical development programs and government contracts. The partnership agreements spanned European government and industry groups to domestic start-up companies. He also managed hundreds of Boeing employees in a tens of millions of dollars profit/loss business unit entrusted with support of 24/7 USAF operations of a remote military observatory site.

After obtaining his law license, Rick practiced for over seven years at an intellectual property specialty firm, Sheridan Ross, and a general practice firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. He has prepared and filed over 200 patent applications, spanning entrepreneurial inventors, two of the foremost global commercial electronics companies, a global electric automobile manufacturer and a global aerospace company. Rick has been registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 2008.

Experience

• Of Counsel, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
• Attorney, Sheridan Ross
• Director, The Boeing Company
• Principal Engineer, Northrop-Grumman Information Technology
• Engineer/Researcher, NASA
• Mechanical Engineer, Failure Analysis Associates

• J.D., 2010, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
• M.S., 1989, University of California at Berkeley
• B.S., 1987, with highest honors, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• Colorado, 2010
• U.S. District Court, Colorado, 2010
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2008

• Registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical), Colorado and California

• Colorado Bar Association
• Denver Bar Association
• Licensed Private Pilot, Federal Aviation Administration

• Colorado Super Lawyers recognition, 2013-2023
• DU Law Scholastic Excellence Awards in Patent Litigation, American Legal History
• Executive Articles Editor, Transportation Law Journal, DU Sturm College of Law
• Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Two NASA Turning Goals into Reality awards, five NASA service awards
• Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society)

• Reviewer, Aerospace Subcommittee, Advanced Industries Grants, Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, 2018-present
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science President’s Leadership Council, 2017-present 
• Secretary, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Colorado, 2021-2022
• Member, Aerospace Alumni Advisory Board, University of Illinois, 2007-2021
• Pro bono services, woman-owned small business, 2019-2020, 2021-present
• Pro bono services, veteran-owned small business, 2017-2018
• Volunteer, ProBoPat Program of Mi Casa Resource Center, 2015-2017